On growing healthy congregations
Ordinary Sunday 26: 25th September, 2005
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's, Eastern Hill
We know a healthy individual or group or community or organization when we see one. A dishonest or dysfunctional relationship – either personal or corporate – is sad to witness and very difficult to be part of. Today's gospel about the two sons being asked to work in the vineyard is one of those that demand that we think again. It is a story where a no finally meant yes and a yes really meant no. This story is therefore one with a nice twist to it – and they are the ones we are likely to remember and think about. The message there was to look not at what is said, but what is actually done. Who actually is living out what was wanted and expected of them by the father in parable, or by God in the teaching behind it? Those chief priests and elders to whom this parable was addressed were told that tax collectors and prostitutes – surely the worst of the worst for respectable people to contemplate – they were ahead of these religious community leaders in their journey on the way to the kingdom of God. Those needy people recognised their need and were responding thankfully and life-changingly to what was being offered to them. They are the healthy ones; they are the ones who are alive to God and it is showing.
The epistle today is part of the letter to the Philippians – not the best example of a healthy community. The church in Philippi was torn apart by various factions and personal vanities. In addressing that community and its needs, St Paul has produced some of his most inspired writing. He calls on the example and encouragement of the Lord himself – his self-emptying, his humility and his ultimate glory. Build on that encouragement Paul says, take on board whatever love or sharing in the Spirit or compassion or sympathy there may be, and seek to be of one mind, and 'let that same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.' (Phil 2:5) Not an easy challenge for a group like that and probably no more welcome a message than that given in the gospel parable. But that is the direction in which spiritual health lies for them. That is what they needed to hear.
I mentioned in the pew sheet this week the clergy seminar I attended. The focus was all about growing and being part of healthy congregations and healthy institutions. Much of the material was refreshing in a context that we all know can be dis-spiriting and especially so the further up the institutional ladder we go. Those of you who check out Anglicans Online on the net or who read the international church papers would know that for Anglicanism internationally there is every sign of things really starting to look very much like the church described in the epistle this morning. Potentially breakaway groups are forming in the Americas and particularly in Africa. Then there is South East Asia and of course our very own Sydney. The whole national churches of Canada and the United States have been excluded from international meetings of the Anglican Consultative council. Just this week it was announced that the Church in Brazil was not to be allowed to attend yet another Anglican global south type meeting shortly in Alexandria in Egypt. That is because, even though it is clearly part of the global south, like the Church in Southern Africa, they do not agree with the positions of the Nigerian Church, which is the dominant player in this game. That Nigerian Church, under the guidance of Archbishop Akinola, in turn has just constitutionally removed all references and associations with the Church of England, because that Mother Church of the Anglican Communion is not considered to be hard line enough. And so it all goes on. People are not talking with each other or even wanting to talk with each other, let alone worship or break bread with each other. It is not at all inspiring or impressive.
I got an email this week from mentor and friend of mine who is now a retired bishop in Canada. He asked me which Anglican Communion, if any, was I proposing to identify myself with. He asked me if I was interested in joining 'a Communion of the rejects plus some like-minded Romans'. A 'Communion of rejects' actually sounds very much like today's gospel, when you come to think of it. So, our e-conversation is continuing.
We live in interesting times, as the Chinese proverb has it. Historically there have been worse times. In any case, these are the only times we are going to have. Historically, for generations or even centuries individuals and local congregations have got on with the job of being people and communities of faith even when, or maybe especially when, it was by no means clear what the future might hold and what form institutional structures might take. These ultimately turn out to be second level questions when it comes to relationship with God in faith and hope and love.
Meanwhile, while things may indeed be falling apart internationally or nationally, there is not much we can do about that. We can though do a great deal at the local parish and congregational level. God can be left to sort out the rest, in God's good time. We ourselves may well not see resolution or even be able immediately to recognise the new shape of it when it emerges. That is no bad thing. But as ever, when a newly invigorated Church of God does indeed come through this time of trial, it will be made up of numberless local communities, congregations, and parishes. We and those who will follow us here are a continuing part of this unfolding story. It is not by accident that the community of faith here in this city church is where we find ourselves now.
Consider this in vocational terms, each one of us. How might it be for us if we reflected on our call to be part of a healthy community of faith here in this place and then together worked further on how we can better respond to that call, and to live it out? We are followers of Jesus Christ. Worship, ministries, growth in faith, prayer, welcome, service, care, support, team work and enjoyable companionship, easy hospitality and above all a generosity of spirit: these are the basic building blocks of what it is to be Church. We work with these building blocks where we are, as we are, encouraging others to join us on the way.
These as well are amongst the themes that we have identified in our 2005 parish vision statement. That sits on the parish website and this year some have come to join us just because of what has been articulated there, and also then the evidence of it that they can see in what we do here and how we do it. That is a big responsibility for us, but increasingly in these difficult times, week by week, there are going to be people here alongside us checking us out, hoping for the best, looking for a spiritual home base once again. We pray for the gifts to be up to that challenge.
Part of that revolves around our self-awareness and self-perception as a parish or as a city church. The point was made at that clergy seminar that smaller congregations start to become larger – that is be welcoming and attractive to newcomers who will want to stay and join – when they start already to think of themselves in larger terms. Think small, think limited or think exclusive select group and that is how you will stay. We here are doing our best to broaden horizons. There is every evidence that things are happening here along these lines that are indeed encouraging. There is something in the air at the moment. You can feel it. It can be discerned. This is a community of faith that people make a real and substantial commitment to. We all give thanks for that, with all our hearts.
Today is that last Sunday of our Church financial year when we have been challenged to renew or for the first time to make a commitment to the ongoing life and work of this city Anglo Catholic church that includes a carefully considered financial pledge. This response may be placed in the offering plate to be confidentially handled by our stewardship secretary or they may be posted. The materials were circulated last week and there are more available this week if for any reason you have missed out. Planned giving envelopes for the year that begins next Sunday are at the back of the church today. So are new sets for those who want to start on this way of giving for the first time here. So is information for direct debiting or special tax deducible donations. One way or another then there is a way that you can do this, if you would like to. We do not apologise for attempting to directly address the financial aspects that attach to the provision of ministry and worship in a place like this. If we were thinking small we would not have to concern ourselves. But we are not, and for well over a century we never have.
While of course we do not have the final giving figures for this financial year yet, it does look like there has been an overall increase in giving in this past year of some 12%. That is very encouraging indeed. That is indeed an indicator of health and of being in good heart. We all need to hear that and to know that. This is a matter of thanksgiving. And that is the sort of continuing encouragement we are hoping for in our combined response to this appeal on this Commitment Sunday. This will happen as a combination of what we who are already part of the financial support of St Peter's do, added to the new contribution of those who are coming to join us. We warmly welcome you all. You need us. We need you.
The Lord be with you.
|
Views is a
publication of
St Peter's Eastern Hill, Melbourne Australia.
|
